Agartala: Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister and veteran politician Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday claimed that instances of neglect of elderly parents and divorce are higher among educated couples, while people from farming families still keep such tendencies in check.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the Alpana and Pithe Puli Utsav organised to mark the Makar Sankranti festival at Lankamura, Nath said, “In highly educated societies, separations and divorces have become very common phenomena. Divorce appears to have a proportionate relationship with education. People acquire high degrees and hold influential positions, yet fail to protect marriages. They are educated, but I must say they are not well educated. If you look at farming families, however, you will rarely see such developments.”
Continuing his remarks, he said, “Please do not take offence. I am not putting all educated people in the same bracket, but a section of them definitely falls into this category. This is why our Prime Minister has said that we should embrace modern thoughts and lifestyles, provided we protect our cultural roots. The fundamental ideals of Indian society, which advocate respect for parents and living in joint families with siblings, should not be diluted.”
Urging parents to continually impart the family values they inherited from their ancestors, Nath said, “Parents today keep their children busy with studies and often instruct them to focus only on their own affairs. If everyone thinks this way, the concept of society will be in danger. No one will come forward to help in times of need. Parents should not take this otherwise, but these values are also the reason many may end up spending their old age in old-age homes.”
Appreciating folk music rooted in Bengali culture, the minister said, “Folk music, which largely originated from agrarian society, has a distinct impact on social life. Various forms such as Baul, Kirtan and Jatrapala serve as mediums to impart philosophical and moral values among the masses.”
He said the state government is working to revive traditional culture that has been lost over time. “There is no other country like India. India has seas, oceans, hills and many other natural features that are not found elsewhere. That is why people from across the world come to witness its beauty. I have seen how people here are connected to the soil. The people of Alpana Gram are keeping culture alive through art, building a bridge between tradition and modernity. This is the essence of India, something Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasised,” he said.
The minister added that during winter, programmes such as Pithe Puli Utsav, Gramin Mela, Nagar Kirtan, Lok Sangeet and Jatra are organised across the country, reflecting the deep connection between nature, agriculture and relationships nurtured over thousands of years.
“This period is not only a time of happiness but also a season of success for farmers, achieved after months of hard work in the fields. Agriculture is not a one-person job but a family and social process. Farmers unite society, and the Pithe Puli Utsav reflects this spirit,” he said.
Nath said the state government has taken steps to revive traditional cultural forms such as folk songs, Baul songs, Jatrapala, drama and kirtan. “This culture belongs to us. The more the present generation practises and preserves it, the more the state and the country will benefit,” he added.
Describing the Alpana and Pithe Puli Festival as a celebration of soil and nature, Nath said, “The people of this village are deeply connected to the soil. They have made the village a blend of modernity and tradition. Alpana village has gained popularity, and its message has reached across the country and abroad. Many people now visit this village. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said: be digital, be modern, be smart, but retain your roots. Preserve your traditions and culture, and only then will the country truly move forward.”